“Annshera ? Annshera ?”

“Your Majesty, she is awake.”

“Oh bless !”

So many eyes starting at her, worried but benevolent. Embarrassed, Annshera had a shy smile. It was enough to reassure the mermaids. Krystalinda caressed her cheek, Annshera could feel pleasurable waves going through her body. She started feeling much better after that, enough to straighten up. The others mermaids sang a sweet melody helping Annshera to regain her full strength.

“Wonderful ladies ! Now leave me alone with her, I have a lot to discuss with that one.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”

The mermaids left the bedroom at Krystalinda’s demand. Annshera forsaw Xenora in a corner, lurking. She gripped her first. She saw her last night along with this monster. It wasn’t a regular monster. She already encountered those monsters in the past, those ones only an Ascian could summon. She had to warn Krystalinda.

“Linda.”

“Easy Annshera, I’ll put you some cream.”

Indeed, she had weird plates all over her body. Thanks to the magical cream they all disappeared. Annshera closed her eyes, silently enjoying the massage. She recalled last night, that mermaid silouhette she forsaw and the monster following her. As if it was under her orders. Creatures of the void.

“It’s Xenora.”

Annshera turned to the mermaids queen to see her reaction. She remained unblinking a moment then she closed her eyes and sighted.

“Sure she is socially awkward but it’s not a crime. She is very protective with me, therefore she does not like anyone growing closer to me. However I can assure you she is not the Ascian.”

“You can’t assure anything with Ascians, Linda. That’s why I am here. We will never find the Ascian if I have to remove anyone close to you from the list of suspects. Let me investigate.”

“Okay, please don’t be too harsh on her.”

“You had visions about me right ? You wouldn’t have called me if you wanted the soft approach.”

***

Annshera joined the mermaids of Krystalinda’s close circle for the group activity. There were five including Annshera, Solene, Deanna, Dylane and Xenora.

“We are usually five but poor Shantel has been a victim of the Ascian.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

The youngest one, Dylane started crying. They all gathered around her softly pressing their fingers on her arms.

“Dylane was very close to Shantel, so was I.”

Annshera didn’t reply to Xenora. She remained convinced she was the Ascian. She prefered taking her time and observe her demeanor.

“Let’s dance, we have to cheer up Dylane.”

“I agree. Are you sure you can handle this Shera?”

What a lame provocative move. Who ever was this Ascian they weren’t very discreet. Annshera was counting on their cunning personality to expose them. She knew them well, their weakness was their ego.

Solene hosted a dancing and singing contest. They split the girls in two teams, Deanna with Xenora and Annshera with Dylane. With no suspense, team Annshera lost. Not used to her body and her powerful new voice, she made a very weak performance. Nonetheless, it lighted the mood and cheered up the mermaids and brought sweet Dylane her simle back. Grateful, she threw herself to Annshera’s arms and thanked her despite their defeat. Xenora couldn’t help but mock the scarlet flower all along. Normally she wouldn’t even pay attention to this but faking being offended by Xenora could be exactly what she needed to be alone with her and expose her.

“You’re coming with us Annshera ?”

“I’ll join you later Dylane. There is something I’m dying to ask Xenora.”

“Dancing and singing lessons perhaps.”

“Who knows Ascian…” she whispered full of pettiness.

Although they were surprised by Xenora obvious animosity toward Annshera, Solene and Deanna decided to ignore it and go back to Krystalinda. Only Dylane was suspicious but Annshera urged her to leave. Alone at least, Xenora requested Annshera to follow her.

“What is this place ? Krystalinda never showed it to me.

Annshera didn’t like the atmosphere of this area. It was much somber and darker that the enlightened main area of Mermaidise “It must be where she is stealing the mermaids' voices. We are quite faraway from the castle.”

Xenora swam away from her. Annshera quickly catch her up. The black hair mermaid was standing before a white shell, her mermaid tail moving slowly.

“You think you’re smarter than us, human ?”

“Listen, all I want is help Krystalinda…”

“Don’t say her name! You arrived here, thinking you can keep her for yourself, taking advantage of her current vulnerability, her kindness. Claiming you are the solution to our Ascian problem.”

“You are the Ascian problem.”

“Is that the conclusion your stupid human brain made ?”

“What the hell do you have against me ?!”

“You are human and humans bring problems !”

All of the sudden, Xenora drew a sword from the white shell. She stroke a estoc edge that Annshera dodged while swimming back. Fully aware she was defenseless, she panicked and screamed. Somehow, she pulled out a big energy wave smashing Xenora away. Surprised, she froze a moment and let her guard down. Full of anger, the black haired mermaid rushed back to Annshera to assault her again. Annshera shouted a piercing scream unleashing a tornado.

“You earned it.” she barely managed to shout.

Taking her victory for granted, Annshera turned around, ready to go back to the castle. Xenora wasn’t willing to give up, however. She gathered her last remaining strength to pull out a cream. Annshera didn’t have time to swim very far, she couldn’t avoid this one. Surprisingly, Xenora’s voice faded.

“Ann.. she…ra….. help me ! HEL..P…”

“Xenora !”

“My voice…. I’...m losing it… “

“The Ascian, shit !”

Too late, Xenora already lost her voice and her stamina. She fainted, sinking in the deep abyssal water.